Steel vs Aluminum
08-22-2015, 11:59 PM
#22
JK Freak
I went with GR aluminum tire carrier with Evo rear Drings and aluminum facia. I put Evo's 1/4 pounder in the front as I'm in the rocks a lot. This setup has been a great compromise (weight vs. strength) for me. You'll save lots of weight by staying with factory skids, they work great. Maybe co cider a trans plate if y have a 3.6 auto
08-23-2015, 07:38 AM
#23
JK Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sumner, WA United States
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It appears GenRite is also using a steel winch plate in addition to steel dring tabs. I don't think any other mfg is doing this. GR knows what they are doing and knows that when strength is needed there is no substitute for steel. This is a good compromise.
08-23-2015, 08:35 PM
#24
Super Moderator
I went aluminum to save weight over steel, not over stock components. In particular, the rear because the tire adds weight and I've had full steel bumpers in the rear. My front winch tray is empty because I had a winch and very rarely used it. I'm a realist- I don't take the jeep out often enough to justify that cost on the front bumper added to the mpg loss from an extra 100lbs on the front.
08-24-2015, 04:49 AM
#25
JK Newbie
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So after reading what’s everyone has stated and thee good and the bad between steel and aluminum. I think if I were to go to aluminum bumper, (from what I have read), One the d-ring shackles should be welded on and be a part of the farm not just the bumper. Am I correct in my think? Also it comes down to what kind of off-roading you are doing. Wondering if there is anybody out there that has the Rockhard aluminum bumpers?
08-24-2015, 05:34 AM
#26
I
After wheeling other rig platforms in our local trails, I'd go with steel everything, unless you're not scraping your bumpers/belly at all on the trails. If you're not doing rocks, you don't need steel, if you're doing light rocks, alum skids will be ok, if you're hitting your bumper over rocks, doing lots of winching, etc, go with steel. If your stock bumpers/skids are intact after wheeling every trail you can think off, and your winching one every red moon, then go with alum.